Ancient viruses trapped in Arctic ice could unleash deadly new pandemic: ‘tangible threat’

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by chris nesci

Thawing permafrost in the Arctic could release an ancient zombie virus, causing a devastating global health emergency, scientists say.

“We now face a clear threat and we need to be prepared to deal with it. It's as simple as that,” says the geneticist and professor emeritus of medicine and genomics at the University of Aix-Marseille. Jean-Michel Claverie says: told the Guardian.

Experts are already working with Arctic University, an international education and research cooperative, to develop surveillance networks to identify cases of diseases caused by ancient microorganisms early, before they spread out of control. Working on construction.

The network will also provide isolation facilities and medical services to infected people to minimize the possibility of further spread, including preventing infectious patients from leaving the region.

The so-called Methuselah microbe, also known as the zombie virus, can survive for tens of thousands of years in the frozen soil that covers almost 20% of the Earth's northern hemisphere.

“The key thing about permafrost is that it's cold, dark, and oxygen-poor, which makes it perfect for preserving biological material,” Claberry says.

“If you put yogurt in permafrost, you might still be able to eat it 50,000 years from now.”

Scientists believe that the deepest layers of permafrost are home to the Earth's oldest ancestors, who lived on Earth as long as 1 million years ago, long before the earliest ancestors of humans, who are thought to have first appeared on Earth about 300,000 years ago. We believe that there is a possibility that the virus that was previously used may have been preserved.

Modern humans therefore have no natural immunity to prehistoric viral invaders.

“Our immune systems may have never come into contact with some of these microorganisms, and that's another concern,” Claberry told the outlet. “The scenario of an unknown virus that once infected Neanderthals striking us again has become a very real possibility, although unlikely.”

While it seems unlikely that an ancient virus could escape from its icy prison in the farthest reaches of the planet and spark a new global pandemic, virologists think there is at least cause for concern.

Erasmus virologist Marion Koopmans said: “We don't know what viruses lie in the permafrost, but there is a real risk that there may be viruses that can cause disease outbreaks. “I think there are, for example, ancient forms of polio,” said Erasmus virologist Marion Koopmans. Rotterdam Medical Center told the media.

“We have to assume that something like this could happen.”